kcinnick2

I am trying to size my trolling motor for a AVID 23FS bay boat. Should I go with a 24v or 36v system for a boat this size for inshore and near shore fishing? If I go by boat weight 24v is plenty, if I go by length 36 is most often recommended. There is only room for 3 regular sized batteries in the console but I was planning on going lithium for the trolling motor so I can fit an extra battery if needed. I was hoping to have some extra space in the console by using lithium batteries for the TM. All the guides I know use 36v motors on their 24ft bay boats, but they are bigger, heavier glass boats. I also see the bass guys run 36v motors on 19ft boats, they also run 300hp motors on them too... so I am not sure if that is the type of boat to look at to pick my accessories.

Dealer says go 24v if it is worth anything.

stowaway

Do you have a t top? Is it often windy with current where you're fishing? If yes then the 36v will probably benefit you.

Flatout71

No way I put a 24v trolling motor on a 23 bay boat.

Keep in mind a 36v system gives you more run time too, at equal speed to the 24v.

if you are going lithium and they fit no need even consider a 24v.

washedupoffroader

36v

LivetoFish

On that light of a boat you should be fine with 24v unless in wicked currents, or on max speed for very long (run time). If you aren’t in open water much and mostly backwaters you’ll be fine.

kcinnick2

No T top. The boat loaded without people is 2800lbs. I don't think that accounts for TM weight or shallow water anchors but that does include 2 regular batteries 1/2 fuel and ice/cooler and supplies for 2 people to fish... whatever that means.

I have seen the argument both ways. I save $250 on motor cost and another 4-5 hundred depending on which lithium battery I choose. I know it will cost a bunch more if I get the 24v and decide I want to upgrade later. I am thinking about going with 50ah or 60ah batteries based on peoples reports on how long they last, I don't think I will ever put a dent in a 100ah lithium. Anyway, I am torn, doing a test ride tomorrow, will be interesting to see if the boat has a TM to play with.

Thanks

pierdude

24v vs 36v Rhodan on Sea Hunt Triton 240

Wickedfisha

My cape bay with no top does amazing with the 36v. I run it for 6hrs and it’s the right choice. Boat does almost 4mph on the TM. I had a 24v on my key west 17 so I wouldn’t imagine a 24v on my current boat. When I hit spot lock I want it to stay like a dog and not walk around. If your looking into lithium I run a single 36v LBP lithium and fish 3 days on a charge. 2 days ago with 3 livewells full we fished 6hrs and my gauge was at 74%. That’s running around on 10 cranked up since I’m too lazy to crank the engine

bobeast

24V is good enough. 36V is better. Do you want better, or good enough?

tmd11111

Even though the boat is light for its size, bay boats catch a lot of wind compared to bass boats. A 24v will pull all day long but when the wind gets up past 12-15 mph it will struggle to hold with spot lock. I went through this for 3 years on my bay boat. Switched to a 36v and no longer a problem. Just fished a bass tournament (with a bay boat) a few weeks ago and fished open water humps and ledges all day with 15mph winds and gusts over 20. Spot lock held all day.

jerryclaybrook

I have a 24V Ulterra on my 23 ft KW. Dry weight of boat alone is 2300 lbs, motor 485, full fuel 480. I don't have a T top I have 2 class 31 batteries and fish shoreline constantly casting for about 5 hrs per trip. Move boat about 1 mph for these 5-6 hr trips. Never lacked for power, never pulled down the batteries below 3/4. I have never felt the need for a 36V with the type fishing I do. Top speed is about 3-3.5 mph. Motor has speed from 1-10 I am normally in the 2-3 range unless windy then 3-5 max.

wstanford277

A 24v will be enough if the shaft length is long enough to stay in the water in waves. My 24v 70 lb trolling motor on a 22 ft bay boat with a t top and never had the batteries get below 50% after fishing. I had group 31 batteries with 125 amp hours, batteries are the key to extended run time.

MrBoo

I have a 24 volt on my 20 ft Pioneer Venture. With a full enclosure and 10 MPH winds I had to be on six yesterday to stay at .6-.8 But normally, the 24 is perfect. A little too much on spotlock. I had to set the offset down to -2 because the motor was blasting past the spot then overcorrecting blasting past again. I think you might see the same thing with a 23 ft boat and 36 V system. But that's small potatoes, easy to configure for and not a reason to not go 36. I would go 36 if I were you without even thinking about it.

mdemott

I fish backwater in North Florida from a 20ft. bay boat. Have a 24v system which works for me. I guess it depends on your normal fishing areas and tides.

Southern Fried

Go big or you can wish you did

fastguy

If you are going to fish in sheltered waters a 24 volt unit will be ok, if you fish where there is a current or the wind blows get the 36 volt and never look back.
I've never heard of anyone going from a 36 volt system to a 24 volt unit on the same boat.

pierdude

67#'s x 3

Inlander

I have a 12v , 55# electric motor on shorter boat with full, walk thru windshield weighing about 2500# loaded. This is adequate. Max speed is 2.1 mph and adequate for spot lock in common tidal flow that I experience.

The flip side of more power is the weight of the batteries. That is not necessarily an issue with lithium batteries. If you use lead acid batteries the 36v weight compromises boat performance to a large extent. You should be sure you need it before you effectively irrevocably detune your boat performance and capacity reserve.

NCBluewater78

If you only intend to use the motor in anchor mode (spot lock) or to patrol water with mild currents 24v is plenty. If you actually want to "troll" at 1.0 to 2.0 knots then you need the 36v. Also, if you want to move say 100 yards fairly quickly from one fishing spot to the next, then you really need the 36v. If you want to sneak into a spot from 400 yards away, the 36v is needed. I know things add up but % wise, you gain 50% more thrust for a lot less than 50% more price and weight to the boat.

I run a 21 foot flat bottom boat, I have the 36v but if i only had the choice of a 24v or a 48v. i would take the 48v. The 24v would do great for anchor mode for me, run outboard to spot then anchor mode, or flounder trolling at .5 to .7 knots. But that is all the 24v would be useful for. I like moving from dock to dock or point to point... the 36 comes in handy.

kcinnick2

I do want to be able to troll contours when I am alone. One of the biggest reasons I am getting a Solix 10 and the Ipilot link. This will be in protected areas. I also want to see if I can gig from a bay boat! If not it will be great to get me to some beaches and bays that are off limits by land, you can't walk on the beach but you can walk in the water along the beach! The best floundering areas have been cut off to land locked fishermen since the deepwater horizon spill. It doesn't make any sense to not allow the public, they still maintain the roads and beach access for .mil and oil companies, our state is just incompetent at managing resources. Seems to be a toss up between 24v and the 36v crowd, I am leaning 36v mainly because if I change my mind that 24v is not enough it will cost me a whole lot more than the $250 in price difference to upgrade later. I really wish they made it a 24v-36v motor, it would make the decision easy!